Lanka ‘sniper’ given 3 more days to hire lawyer

Alleged Sri Lankan sniper, Lahiru Madushanka has been given three more days to appoint legal representation after he was charged to have been contracted to assassinate Maldivian President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom.

Madushanka was given a second opportunity to hire a lawyer during the hearing on the case at Criminal Court on Tuesday.

He was arrested in October, 2015 and has been kept in jail ever since.

He is proceeding with the trial with the assistance of a translator.

Both Madushanka and former Vice President and Tourism Minister, Ahmed Adeeb Abdul Gafoor – who is accused of spearheading the assassination attempt, were provided extra days to hire a lawyer.

The other two charged in the case include Fazeel Hameed and Is’haaq Hussain.

Both Fazeel and Is’haaq have denied the charges against them.

Speaking during the hearing, Fazeel’s lawyer Naushaad Abdul Azeez and Is’haaq’s lawyer Husnu Suood complained that they had not received all documents pertaining to the case, and can only prepare a proper defense when they receive the documents.

State prosecutor, Adam Mohamed said that there were total 16 documents pertaining to the case, eight of which the prosecution wishes to remain classified.

He said that five of the documents included statements taken during the investigation from five witnesses, and that three of the documents included names of three anonymous witness.

Judge Ali Adam said that the court could provide the unclassified documents to the defense today itself, and would consider blacking out the names of the witnesses and providing the classified documents to the defense after he received them and did his review.

Judge Ali Adam announced that the next hearing in the case would be held after three days.

Adeeb and Fazeel Hameed are accused of actively searching for a hitman to assassinate President Yameen, Madushanka is accused of being the hitman they hired to assassinate President Yameen and Is’haaq Hussain is accused of transporting the payment to Madushaka – fully aware what they payment was for.